FOOTBALL

Discuss The USC-Cal Game

This was supposed to be a relaxing victory vs. an anemic offense.

Instead, it was an unmitigated defensive disaster.

Did USC look like it even covered anyone in the second half? Cal QB Jack Plummer had not thrown for more than 300 yards in a game this season. But he threw for 406 vs. USC.

Please stop the College Football Playoff talk. Do you want USC to play a team like Ohio State or Georgia or Tennessee?

Let’s remember also that Donte Williams hasn’t coached the cornerbacks to any kind of success in three seasons. As a coach, he’s a heckuva recruiter.

And memo to Lincoln Riley, it might be time to find someone who can coach special teams.

The defense is getting worse as the season progresses.

71 thoughts on “Discuss The USC-Cal Game”

      1. Yes…. but mostly slow, unathletic players on defense — except for two or three guys this is the slowest defense I’ve seen play for USC. Always out of position …cuz they’re so slow to react.
        Of course, it doesn’t help they can’t tackle. Everybody knows to go for 2 against us — we can’t wrap up when it counts.
        I’m also worried that Caleb’s timing with Addison and Williams is gonna be for shit when they finally come back.

        Liked by 3 people

    2. …and physical conditioning?

      If we were to evaluate defensive stats–first half vs second half–we’d find the Trojans hold teams to about 170 yards in the first half (respectable) and then 250+ in the second half. Seems like the front 7 lose intensity in the second half.

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      1. D-line was gassed in the 4th QT…..little to no pressure on an average QB with zero threat to run. We are just stuck with some VERY average, at best, D1-level defenders….. Foreman has proven to be the biggest bust ever as a #1 ranked recruit

        It’s been the product of substandard recruiting classes going back a few years…..(only a few might be generous )

        Liked by 3 people

      2. Yep –not the best athletes — and maybe Grinch isn’t even getting the best out of their “averageness”…..

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  5. Riley is obviously a step up from Helton, especially offensively (and recruiting). Yet there are obvious blind spots. Bringing Grinch along was risky given he hasn’t had a good defense since he left the Palouse. And it’s a massive error in not having a special teams coach.

    I also am stupified of the plastic/rubber/unnatural mats they have on sidelines. I’ve watched players for years slip on them. Amazing that more aren’t hurt or gotten concussions from the whiplash of hitting their heads on the ground.

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    1. The Safety play is acceptable. Bullock does pretty well–for a Soph who was coached by knuckleheads last year. Shaw is a nice addition. The deep plays are on the Safeties who continue to blow coverage. I think they have to come up and provide too much run support, as the LB are not fast or strong.

      Ceyair Wright needs to see the bench. Blackmon will make the all Pac12 team, though he had a tough cover last night and gave up some yards.

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  6. As much as I hate to admit it, this is how USC is going to have to win games the rest of the way. I think Alex Grinch would like to blitz more, but in order to do that you need corners and safeties than can cover man to man without getting smoked for a big gain or get a P.I. Which brings me to Donte Williams. I said earlier in the week that he is nothing more than a bullshit artist, who would have a hard time coaching high school. Basically the USC defense is caught between a rock and a hard place. If the offense doesn’t score at least 48 points it’s going to be tough to win out.

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    2. Here’s what I [half seriously] think — Our d-backs are SO unreliable we oughta just rush 8 or 9 guys almost every down —if we don’t get the quarterback, the corners are gonna be out of position or blow the tackle anyway —why pretend otherwise? Put all our eggs in one basket and try to get the sack or the hurry up —with our coaching on the backend, doing anything else is an exercise in futility…..
      #DonteHasUsedUpHisGoodWill…
      #HeWouldn’tEvenBeHereExceptCarolInsistedOnIt….

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      3. Rushmore —I hate to say it but 11 of our guys back there [under Donte] wouldn’t be enough. We actually have a pretty good rush —and it would be even more effective if the Pac 12 refs took holding as seriously as they take roughing.

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  7. We are 8 and 1, stop whining

    We maybe go to #8 in poll with 1 loss Tennessee ahead of us but Alabama behind us.

    Defense is working progress but offense is awesome

    Michael Jackson is fast substitute him for Raleek any day.

    Is Raleek Brown like Korey Foreman, a recruiting mistake ?

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      1. Yes, Gabby
        We only lost by 1 point on the road in Utah

        Seriously, considering what Haden, Swan, Helton did to damage the brand the last 8 years, it is simply amazing USC is 8 and 1!!

        It is like buying a stock at $10 per share that shoots up to $50!

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    3. Raleek is not a liability …unless Riley thinks he’s a weapon….he’s not. He’s not in the same league as Dye….not nearly….and, worse, never will be —-we better hunt for a better running back after Dye leaves or we’re fucked next year…..

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      1. Jones is back(could be wrong)….or I guess Riley thinks he’ll hit another HR through the portal…..it’s a total crap-shoot……

        Liked by 1 person

      2. With nothing but respect for Cal75, don’t you think the kid Ott from Cal would be a nice addition to USC via the portal?

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    4. But this defense is deplorable.

      In the real rankings–the FPI–USC dropped 2 points due to horrific defense versus a known anemic offense. The computer doesn’t play favorites. It just analyzes the data and gives and honest answer.

      I think USC is a solid top 15 team with this defense.

      Liked by 1 person

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    1. rent….. speaking of getting screwed….. That looks like Tiny, Mrs slo cal’s Dildo, parked between your butt cheeks…… just saying for a friend

      #OUCH!

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      1. Crabs, you corpulent dwarf, quit spinning on your thumb; just asking for your mangy mother the hyena.

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  10. Wouldn’t be surprised to see multiple two-loss teams ahead of us in poll.
    Happy to be 8-1 but def the worst 8-1 team in football. Wait is Tulane 8-1? Maybe better than Tulane…

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  11. Um, why is Wolf or anyone surprised that this team plays like a 4-8 team during games? Defensively, these Trojans struggle with one on one tackling or play recognition. Georgia defenders play to win every one on one matchup on every snap. It’s the first year for this team who hasn’t been pushed this hard AS A GROUP. This year is a just win type of year. Let me warn you crying hound dogs, it’s going to be two or three years before they reach Georgia’s level.

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  12. That short fat overgrown Eddie Munster clown with the porn stache on the USC sideline is bad luck, he has been there through Kiffin, Sarkisian and Helton.

    That fat fuck has to go

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      2. toehead…… it’s called reading between the lines…I’m sorry you’re too dense to grasp the ability

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  13. I thought that the Arizona game was exciting even though they just won by 8. This game was really frustrating. That defense is not good at all. The D-Line played well. Cal rushed for only 63 yards on 24 carries. They had 3 sacks and 9 TFL. But that secondary took a mediocre QB(Jack Plummer) and turned him into Tom Brady. Plummer threw for 268 against UC Davis, 278 against UNLV and 262 against Colorado. He threw for 406 against SC. The secondary is more talented than the D-Line. It has some talented players back there. Plummer has the mobility of a D-Lineman and he doesn’t have a great arm.  CAN SC win their next 3 games? Yes. WILL they? I’m not so confident. Not with that pass defense. SC has given up 115 points in the last 3 games. That’s almost 39 points a game. They have given up 1210 yards passing in the last 4 games. That’s 403 a game.  Colorado is probably the only school in the pac-12 that has a worst  QB than Plummer.  When the season is over, LR should seriously think about getting rid of Donte Williams and maybe even Grench. At best, I would give him one more year at the most.

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  15. the wolfie is correct…and it appears the defense is even getting worse in the secondary…SC may be headed to a 10-3 year incl a win in a minor bowl game…does not appear any pac12 title game or college play off in this teams future. Bama is heading for a 10-3 year also,so 10-3 is pretty good for SC that was 4-8 last yr,but another year of losses to ucla and ND is a bitter thing to swallow,but no defense means no wins there. Maybe next year.

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    1. Riley will not lose to UCLA and Notre Dame, doesn’t matter how are they playing right now they will be ready for UCLA and Notre Dame, Everyone seems to forget that Lincoln Riley is a winner never lost more than two in one year, he knows what he has to do he’s been there before.

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      1. Some key talent on Defense returns vs UCLA and ND.
        I’m not throwing the towel in on this team just yet.

        The computer has USC at 53% chance of beating UCLA at the rose bowl
        Likewise, USC 64% probability of beating ND at the Coliseum.

        I’d like to see a shutdown performance vs CU on Friday.

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      2. I’ll agree with you on one thing. I still have hope that they will beat UCLA and ND because both are(for the most part) home games. UCLA should be a revenge game for SC, considering they stomped on us last year in our own house and ND has beaten SC 4 times in a row. I have a hard time believing SC will not be up for the the Irish and not want to lose a 5th time in a row right here in the Coliseum. Also, hopefully we’ll have some key players back for that game.

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    1. GOOD ONE…I went to church with my wife of many decades…included a prayer for SC on this day with that saved hour,plus a nap.

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    1. “My experience with these things,” Riley said, “is you get to the end and no one remembers how. You either found a way to win them or didn’t. The reality is this team is 8-1 with everything in front of us.”

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      2. Michael,
        The computer, which is not suffering from the time change or that extra frustration beer which I had last night, gives USC a 53% chance to win at the Rose Bowl and a 64% chance to win vs ND.

        Get Gentry back. Get Shaw more reps at safety. Get Ceyair OUT OF THE GAME. Get some blitz packages going…

        I looked at DYE vs Charbonnet, DTR vs #13, Addison vs Bobo.
        USC lines up nicely, and their defense is not so hot either.

        Liked by 1 person

      3. We need a replacement for Lee……The guy runs around like he’s pulling a trailer…..Always a step or two behind/late …..I can’t recall a slower LB in recent memory playing in the middle for USC…. I see why he was a bench player at Bama

        We definitely need Goforth back. He has the quickness to scrape off tackle and help contain Charbonnet or a DTR keeper. Plus, his pass coverage is far better than Lee’s

        Lee is constantly getting turned and chasing the play from behind……He would make an even worse soccer defender

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    3. I think that Lee is a pretty good run stopper. Use him on run plays but they do need someone else in there on passing plays. As long as he’s in there, the other team will be running that wheel route and it will work because Lee is not fast enough to keep up with a good RB who can run routes and catch the ball.

      Liked by 1 person

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    1. Did you watch our trainers and offensive line on the sidelines while Cal was making their comeback? Everybody laughing and giving each other pats and high fives —it was lie watching a clueless Helton team.

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  21. Right now, I’ll sign up for 10-1 regular season with wins over over ND & Ruins, a loss in Pac12 championship (save us from getting trucked in playoffs) and the Rose Bowl!

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  22. Gentlemen. Greetings from the North. I agree that 8-1 is significant, flaws and all. Winning is hard and sometimes flukey( as badly as we played against Stanford we had them beat until our best rb fumbled. ) so take your wins. As to USC-ND, even before last night I thought we would simply push you around, but last night confirmed. As fun as it is to watch CW, if a team runs it 40 times for 250 they are hard to beat. And that is how we are running it. BTW the same computer gave us a 35% chance to beat Clemson.
    See you in 3 weeks!

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    1. BUT YOU LOST TO STANFORD……WE DON’T COUNT MORAL VICTORIES AROUND HERE…… SAME OLD SHIT JUST A DIFFERENT PILE……RUN ALONG!

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